Love at the Helm

*Inspired and helped by Almiral of the Fleet the Earl Mountbatten of Burma.* There was silence until Delora said, "so... you do not like... kissing me! To me it was the most wonderful thing that ever happened!" Captain Conrad Horn realised she was perilously near to tears and he said quickly: "Of course I liked kissing you, but am ashamed of my lack of control. It is something of which any Captain would be ashamed." "I do not think you... kissed me as a... Captain," Delora said, "but as... a man. I think that even... though you are... fighting against it, you... love me a little." "You are not to talk like that," Conrad said automatically. As he spoke he was not quite certain how it happened, but he was kissing her as he had before, until he forgot everything but the magic of her lips, the softness and fragrance of her, and the wildness of his own love....